Qi Ji serves their culinary specialties: homemade Popiah, Laksa, Mee-Siam and Nasi Lemak. It started from humble food stall, Hock Heng, at Funan Centre. Their Popiah was very popular and it became their signature dish and regularly received positive reviews from the media.

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Featured reviews

A Surprise in Itself

It all started when we found ourselves sitting in the store at Tiong Bahru eating as we have maxed out all the food outlets in the shopping mall. Who would have thought that after that it would actually become one of our favorite after-training eating spots.

The small outlet had two rows of limited tables and chairs catered to host a small amount of customers,hence at crazy lunch hours it is almost impossible to even wait for a seat because it is just impossible. It serves Nasi Lemak and Popiah as it specialty and without fail every time we dine at this place we would definitely feast ourselves in these cheap food.

To be honest, the food is rather standard. The nasi lemak having the option of choosing sides, and other food alternatives like that of a malay store like mee siam and mee rebus. There are also home-made barley, bandung and grass jelly drink available to compliment the taste of the food. For the price of the food, it is actually more expensive than being at a coffee shop or a food court but I feel that it is probably the environment that makes it a little more comfortable and hence the food a little more tasty. Perhaps it is the frequent trips to this place that has caused the food to grow on us, at times, we actually do crave eating Qi Ji which is quite peculiar as the food is really quite average.

User Ratings Summary

User rating summary from: 12 user(s)

terrible food, except for the popiah

Qi Ji is a small eatery that serves local cuisine at pretty marked up prices. I remember coming here with my mom almost once every week to have their Popiah ($1.90) and some coffee.

I’ve tried their Nasi Lemak and Mee Siam and it was horrid. If i remembered correctly, both dishes were not cheap and it tasted below average. Their popiah on the other hand, was really good and I always enjoy eating it. It gets really popular on some days and sells out by 3pm.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Qi Ji for their food except for the popiah and their drinks.

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Sweetness in its spice!

The highlight here would be the Nasi Lemak. It comes in 5 set options. Nasi Lemak lovers will know that what makes or breaks it is the chilli. What makes Qiji’s Nasi Lemak memorable is the sweetness of the chilli, which complements its spiciness.

I was bored of the common fried chicken wing to go along with the rice, so I tried the Chicken Chop. Its breaded crust adds another layer in its texture, making it crunchy on the initial bites and soft on the inside. The disappointing part though, was the rice - it was supposed to be green in color according to the picture on the menu but turned out white; it’s also not one of the most aromatic rice around.

The service was fast and efficient judging on how fast and good they cleared the tables for customers, as well as the ordering process. The serving was just right, it is halal and it is worth the money.

Nice popiah

This was the place I always had lunch when I had work to do in Changi Hospital. The shop was not big and it was always crowded so you need a little patience to get a table. The tables were also placed very close to each other to squeeze in the extra table so it was not the most comfortable place to sit down and eat and most people would leave immediately after completing their meals.

I always ordered nasi lemak but I would also add a popiah as a side order. The popiah had peanut in it and it gave the crunchy feeling when eating, very nice. The popiah was not cheap but comparing to some food court that charged only slightly cheaper, the taste was worth it. The drink was a bit diluted and given the price, it should be a higher quality.

Some pretty good food

I come to Qiji for a quick brunch whenever I feel like having a simple bowl of laksa and I am to lazy to head all the way down to Katong. Qiji serves rather tasty Nasi Lemak too, but I feel that it is not quite at the standard of Adam Road's.

I applaud the owner's idea to market out to have many outlets, turning local food into more or less a fast food chain, but I am rather disappointed by the poor seating here. Whever it reaches 1pm, I am not able to get a seat, and after 5 it is simply hopeless.

Not much to jump about...

First up, Qi Ji is an eatery which serves only local cuisine. from finger food such as Popiah to their Nasi Lemak set meals, there is a fair range of local cuisine available to the diner. Their Laksa is nice, with a thick and creamy gravy with the right amount of coconut milk in it.

Having eaten at their Marina Square outlet on more than a few occasions, I find that their service skills are at most, tolerable. I've been faced with unhappy staff and rude cashiers before, coupled with pushy cleaners who seemingly can't wait to clear your table, even if you haven't finished your meal yet. In addition to that are their prices, which I find are slightly high. All being said, I find it an affordable alternative to eat at Qi Ji's when I'm in the mood for simple local cuisine, of which there is a significant lack at Marina square.

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Not really my first choice

As above, I don't really go to Qi Ji unless I am absolutely required to. The main reason being that the food is overpriced and really doesn't taste all that good. It's like they're trying to mass produce hawker fare, and end up with a very bland and predictable set of dishes. That being said however, some of their drinks are particularly good, namely the barley and homemade lemon tea.

But I guess Qi Ji does appeal to some people, since after all, in the times that I have been there, it was almost always full. Which ends up being another one my gripes, that the seating is always cramped and so close to each other, making for a rather unpleasant dining experience.

If you want hawker fare, go to an actual hawker centre and save yourself the trouble.

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halal!

Selling local delicacies such as laksa, nasi lemak, mee rebus and popiah, one would be happy to find that Qi Ji is a Halal certified establishment, allowing one to eat there comfortably with your muslim friends.

I really enjoy eating their popiah, since their turnip filling has just the right texture, not being too mushy or crunchy like some other versions of it. Even after time has passed, the skin does not turn soggy and hence tear easily. They are also generous with their toppings such as the peanuts and egg. Altogether, it is a good rendition of this rather common dish.

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barley

Qiji is a place that sells local fare at marked up prices. Nasi lemak, noodle soup, barley etc.. quite a limited selection of food although they have a few different nasi lemak sets, they are still nasi lemak so not much variety there. The nasi lemak was pretty average to me and I will not go back there for it again. I didn't find the rice to be fragrant. I did not find the chicken to be crispy, warm and tender. These two criterias are what I use to judge a good plate of nasi lemak. I tried the egg noodle soup as well (why did I? I have no idea) and at $4.50, it was maggi noodles with fishcake, cheap processed hotdogs and an egg immersed in MSG-laden soup. I can easily make this at home if I wanted to eat it. It was a no go in my book as well.

The only thing I would recommend from Qiji is their barley. I really like the barley and at $2+ a cup, it isn't that cheap but the barley and silky stuff (I suspect it's beancurd skin or something...) makes it so worth it! The barley is pre-packed into their Qiji cups so I am afraid you can't let them know about the sweetness level. For someone who likes sweetness, the barley was not sweet enough for my liking but I am guessing it is of average sweetness level. The drink was refreshing and the chewy ingredients in it brings it to a whole new level.

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expensive food and drinks

Qi Ji offers a wide variety of local cuisine, ranging from mee siam and mee rebus to nasi lemak and popiah.

There are several nasi lemak sets available, which includes chicken wings, otah, fish fillet and many others. Each set comes with ikan billis and peanuts, egg, cucumber and chilli. However, they are not customisable and food items within the set cannot be changed to any others. The rice is well cooked with pandan leaves, and thus the rice does not cluster together and is fragrant. Out of all the ingredients, chicken wings are the nicest.

For a lighter snack, the popiah, with or without prawn, would be a good choice. The popiah skin is thin and soft and the fillings are juicy. Ordering the popiah without the prawn is recommended, as the prawns are quite small and the prawn cannot be tasted when eaten with the rest of the popiah fillings.

Ingrdients used are fresh and the taste is generally acceptable. But considering the taste and quality, the meals are not worth the price. Although there are queues during mealtimes, the service is fast and the wait is reasonable.

Pleasant place to dine at

Sad to say, there are very few local foods which are Halal. Qi Ji offers a range of food which can be found in our local food courts, in the halal version.

The most popular dish would probably be the Nasi Lemak. The Nasi Lemak they offer comes in many variations. I usually get the one with the chicken wing and egg. Their Laksa is not too bad as well. The gravy is decently thick and tasteful. What I especially like would be their popiah. The skin is of a certain elasticity and there is enough gravy. Don’t you hate it when you eat popiah without enough sauce at the bottom and then everything inside drops out? The Qi Ji one won’t disappoint you.

I also like their home made drinks. I usually get the barley. Their barley has little bits of barley at the bottom, which adds a unique texture when you drink it. It makes it a fun drink to consume as well as there are bits to chew on after each sip.